Robert Scardino, Author

I'm a writer stuck in an engineer's brain with a debilitating case of autoholism. While studying at the University of Illinois I discovered my passion for writing with a weekly sports column in a local newspaper. I've been writing ever since. When I moved out of my parents' house, I got married, rescued a beagle, and realized that environmental responsibility is a requirement, not a choice. I became obsessed with energy conservation to the annoyance of my wife, who raised an eyebrow when I suggested we use solar chargers for our portable electronics. I'm not ashamed to admit that my stash of earth friendly, biodegradable cleaners stems from an Oprah episode. I am embarrassed, however, that my steamiest dream lately involved a plug-in hybrid Toyota FJ Cruiser with go-anywhere attitude, room for my furry friends and a combined rating of 50 miles per gallon. Imagine my disappointment when I awoke and realized that this vehicle doesn't exist yet.

Articles

Mugen Mods Honda Insight Robert Scardino February 11, 2009

It has been less than a week since the Honda Insight went on sale in Japan and there are already modifications available for it. The perennial Honda tuners at Mugen have given the Insight a visual...
Lightning GT - Still In the Works
The Tesla Roadster garners much of the electric supercar discussion and rightly so. It is a feat of modern engineering. If you've got $200,000 to spend you have some other choices though. One of those could come from across the pond. The Lightning GT is a 650 horsepower electric powerhouse that...
Robert Scardino February 9, 2009

VW Plans Supercharged Hybrid Touareg
It's about time "supercharged" and "hybrid" are being used in the same sentence. Adding to an already full stable of gas and diesel engines, Volkswagen has announced that a supercharged hybrid Touareg is on the way. The new Touareg will employ a start-stop system to save gas when idle, regenerative...
Robert Scardino February 7, 2009
God's Gift to Electric Motorcycles: Mission One EV Sport Bike
What happens when a Tesla Motors castoff and an award winning industrial designer join for a brainpower tryst? A freaking fast electric motorcycle is born. Mission Motors unveiled the world's fastest production all-electric motor cycle at TED2009 yesterday to googly eyes and slackened jaws. The...
Robert Scardino February 6, 2009
Malta and IBM Announce Smart Grid Plans
One small island nation off the coast of Italy is about to become the test case for countrywide smart-grid technology. Malta and IBM have agreed on a plan to digitize the country's electrical grid and water system. In a place with over 1700 vehicles per square mile, climate change is a very...
Robert Scardino February 4, 2009
Tufts University's Regenerative Shock Absorbers
If you're dissatisfied with your hybrid's fuel economy, Tufts University has your back. Two engineering professors there have developed shock absorbers that use electromagnetic generators to convert intermittent linear motion to electrical power. In non-nerd-speak this means that energy from your...
Robert Scardino February 3, 2009
Sonoma County Gears Up for Nissan EVs Robert Scardino February 3, 2009

In November of last year, the Renault-Nissan Alliance announced a partnership with Sonoma County to promote the adoption of electric vehicles and encourage the development of charging infrastructure....

Good Karma for Tonkin Group
If you're an eco-friendly car fanatic with an extra 90 thousand bones lying around, the Fisker Karma might be for you. If you've never heard of Fisker and you're afraid you won't be able to find one, never fear. The Ron Tonkin Automotive Group has agreed to carry the upcoming plug-in hybrid in both...
Robert Scardino January 31, 2009
Ex-McLaren Designer Working on P1-E Electric Sports Car
Former McLaren designer, Jim Dowle (now of his own company JJAD) is creating an electric sports car and the specs sound promising. Instead of the previously announced, gasoline powered P1 project which was originally intended to compete with the Lotus Exige, the P1-E will have a four-wheel drive...
Robert Scardino January 24, 2009
Tesla's $48,000-Per-Car Mistake
If you've followed the Tesla Motors story from the beginning, you know that there have been trials and tribulations along the way. How many speeds would the transmission have? When would the cars be delivered? How fast would they actually be? Today, Tesla Chairman, Elon Musk gave some insight as to...
Robert Scardino January 23, 2009
Toyota Introduces Certified Used Hybrid Program
Apparently people are nervous about buying used hybrids, or at least Toyota thinks so. The new number one automaker in the world announced its Certified Used Hybrid Program yesterday, which should give used hybrid buyers even more peace of mind than they would already have about driving a more...
Robert Scardino January 22, 2009
Lithium Polymer Batteries For 2011 Hyundai Sonata
Here's more news falling under the "Korean Automakers Are Taking Over the World" category. Hyundai plans to introduce a hybrid version of their popular midsize Sonata sedan for 2011. The Korean car company expects to meet the 2020 Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards in 2015. The Sonata hybrid...
Robert Scardino January 19, 2009

Audi Planning Eco-Friendly Car Lineup Robert Scardino January 18, 2009
Audi E2

While BMW's Mini E is garnering all sorts of attention Audi is quietly planning a full line of alternative fuel vehicles ranging from a tiny city car to a speedy sportback. There are...
Plug-In Parade Brings the EVs Out
Toyota RAV4 EV What better place for a parade of electric vehicles than Santa Monica, California, the city that introduced a sustainability plan fifteen years ago, long before "going green" meant anything. On Saturday, a few hundred spectators came out for the EV procession which featured 74...
Robert Scardino January 18, 2009
Cleverly Named Electric Supercar From Russia: Marussia
What do Chrysler, Lotus and Russian race car driver/singer/TV anchor/actor, Nikolay Fomenko, have in common? They all want to make electric sports cars to compete with Tesla. Enter the Marussia. The Russian supercar pairs some front end styling cues from the Lamborghini Revention with an interior...
Robert Scardino January 16, 2009
Tesla and Daimler Reach Li-On Battery Deal
Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, has confirmed the rumors that have been lighting up the blogosphere for months. The start-up electric car company will supply its lithium ion battery packs and charging systems to the Daimler Group for use in the upcoming Smart ED. The agreement was announced at the Society of...
Robert Scardino January 13, 2009
Chrysler 200C Unveiled - More ENVI Eye Candy
Surprise! There's a new potential Chrysler ENVI product at the Detroit Auto Show. It's called the Chrysler 200C and it might use the same fake range-extending powertrain employed in the Wrangler, Patriot and Town and Country EVs. It's also apparently the American born Hyundai Genesis love-child...
Robert Scardino January 12, 2009
Dodge Circuit EV Pics
On Friday it got its name. On Saturday it got its face. The tireless auto fanatics at Jalopnik have pics of the Dodge Circuit EV. As expected, the prominent company trademark cross-hair grill is in place. No word on when or whether this car ever sees the light of a showroom floor. If Dodge is using...
Robert Scardino January 12, 2009

Honda Insight Revealed Robert Scardino January 11, 2009
Honda's Insight hybrid was revealed at NAIAS today and is expected to arrive at a dealership near you in April. The Insight uses a 1.3-liter SOHC aluminum-alloy i-VTEC engine, a continuously...
Jeep Patriot Added to Chrysler's ENVI Line
Chrysler's line of imaginary electric vehicles keeps growing. It started with the iconic Wrangler, the Town and Country minivan and the newly named Dodge Circuit sports car. Today the Jeep Patriot will join the ranks of the eco-friendly lineup. The Patriot, which will be unveiled at the Detroit...
Robert Scardino January 11, 2009
Integrity Automotive Applies for ATPMIV Funds
Remember the whole Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program (ATPMIV) that was supposed to encourage automakers to develop more technologically advanced, fuel efficient vehicles? This is the same pool of money that the Detroit Three were salivating over until the government decided...
Robert Scardino January 10, 2009
Cadillac to Unveil E-Flex Coupe Concept at NAIAS
Kate Walsh may be driving something altogether different in her future Cadillac commercials, but it could be just as sexy (the car, that is) as her CTS. Cadillac is expected to unveil an E-flex concept coupe at the upcoming auto show in Detroit. The concept is expected to look "bolder" than...
Robert Scardino January 9, 2009
Protoscar to Compete with Tesla, Dodge, Lotus
Protoscar Lampo Protoscar, the self-proclaimed Swiss "CleanCar Shapers," plan to introduce an electric sports car at the Geneva Motor Show. The 268 horsepower convertible LAMPO concept will be unveiled at the show on March 2nd. The LAMPO uses an electric motor for each axle (the front for...
Robert Scardino January 8, 2009
Panasonic Links Home Networks to Electric Cars at CES 2009
Panasonic plans to display their "High Definition Power Line Communication" (HD-PLC) at this year's Consumer Electronics Show and an electric car will take center stage. HD-PLC will be used to demonstrate the integration of your future electric car into your home network. While the car is...
Robert Scardino January 7, 2009